Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
Source: wcc
The South African Council of Churches has submitted an amicus curiae brief to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, calling for stronger recognition of states' obligations under the African Charter in addressing the climate crisis and fossil fuel financing.
The application, filed on March 30, responds to a request for an advisory opinion initiated by the Pan African Lawyers Association. It focuses on the legal responsibilities of African states to prevent climate-related harm and to regulate both public and private financial flows that support fossil fuel production.
This initiative follows and builds on the landmark Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Responsibility of States with respect to climate change, issued in July 2025.
In its submission, the South African Council of Churches argues that the rights to life, health and a satisfactory environment enshrined in the African Charter are directly threatened by continued investment in fossil fuels. It has been argued that states have both positive and negative obligations to ensure that financial systems under their authority, including national institutions and private actors, do not contribute to environmental harm.
The South African Council of Churches also highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on African communities. Based on recent experiences of floods, drought and displacement in Southern Africa, the presentation outlines the impact on vulnerable communities, the vital role of churches in responding to climate disasters, and the urgent need for legal clarity and accountability mechanisms that reflect the realities of affected populations.
In particular, the South African Council of Churches calls on states to conduct due diligence in their participation in multilateral financial institutions and to align investment decisions consistent with limiting global warming. It urges governments to adopt regulatory measures to limit private financing of fossil fuels and promote the transition to sustainable energy systems.
Rev. Mzwandile Molo, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, said the presentation reflects the Church's commitment to speaking out on issues of justice and human dignity in the face of the climate crisis. “The voices of communities already experiencing the impacts of climate change must not only be heard but taken seriously in shaping legal and policy responses,” Mollo said. “This could be a watershed moment in climate justice for Africa, if the unique perspective of faith-based organizations committed to social, climate and environmental justice is embraced as a legitimate voice in shaping our common future.”
The South African Council of Churches described the consultative proceedings as an important opportunity for the African Court to clarify the scope of the obligations of states in addressing climate change within a human rights framework.
This presentation was made through the WCC initiative “Hope for Children through Climate Justice,” which supports churches in demanding accountability for decisions that perpetuate the root causes of the climate emergency and paving the way to a brighter future.
Churches and partners who would like to join this project are invited to send a note to churchforchildren@wcc-coe.org.